words – Page 3

questions for my students and no these will not be on the test but they are so very much more important-

do you know about Einstein? and is it E=MC2 or the fact that he didn’t speak until he was 9, thought to be slow, was expelled from high school? do you know about Dr. Seuss? and is it all 1 fish 2 fish or is it the 27 rejected publishing attempts before his first success?Continue reading “questions for my students and no these will not be on the test but they are so very much more important-“

Here is every mental illness I’ve ever been diagnosed with, as a house.

because some people build homes out of their mental illnesses and I think I used to do that too. Homes are stable. Homes are steady. Homes are seemingly swell reasons not to go outside. This poem is a plea- Hey, no matter how comfortable your house is, please go outside. BIPOLAR is a house with soContinue reading “Here is every mental illness I’ve ever been diagnosed with, as a house.”

for all the honey

I have poured out of half-enjoyed human stories in chipped porcelain China cups held haphazardly in the hands of my history- I am writing a to-do list addressing my limitations. I am seeking to sip longer, to be self-loving, to be good, to be just to just be. to unlearn my fear of kissing flickeringContinue reading “for all the honey”

If my voice were a gun

I wouldn’t exactly call it trigger-happy. (See, I know just how often I misfire.) Some days I forget what I sound like entirely. When I start to speak, my voice shakes like an old washing machine. Last winter I swore there were cobwebs growing on my vocal chords. When I introduced myself to you, myContinue reading “If my voice were a gun”

today, i’m trying

not to think about how i want to kiss you with my mouth open, and my eyes just the same. i want to not want to see you- (really see you) shiver straight out of our current context, carefully crafting a new one. wanna stop dreamin’ of a new one. Continue reading “today, i’m trying”

“Becoming an agent of historical change”

today my professor said there are scientific studies saying, “we are actually soft-wired to be hyper-competitive, we are more hardwired to be empathetic” as in there is this illusion that we are born brutal, born tough, born sinners, born evil this is just a falsity. this is just some cover up. this is just aContinue reading ““Becoming an agent of historical change””

Philadelphia is a city trying

She used to boom and bustle, now she yearns and yawns. ‘Cause Philadelphia is a city tired. her bones ache these days and she’s been napping more than she used to. we saw her waking over a month ago, we saw her squint her eyes at the sun. (’cause Philadelphia is a city hopeful) weContinue reading “Philadelphia is a city trying”

Kids are so resilient,

bouncing back and back and back andbelieving “i’m sorry(‘s)“every time they are spokenand not questioning “i promise“or “i love you” or “i mean it(‘s)“.they are everyone’s advocate they are proudand generousthey are forgivingthey are relentlessthey are effervescentand curious.they are teachers. -&

a collection of words about young hands holding paint brushes.

(context: these are about my time at Sheppard Elementary School in North Philadelphia helping muralist Sandra Gonzalez with a mural project in the school. a group of us worked with different classrooms of the elementary school students to help them paint tiles for the mural to be installed in their school) The fountain of youth need not be discovered.Continue reading “a collection of words about young hands holding paint brushes.”